Coin-controlled chair.



G. A. ADAMS.

COIN CONTROLLED CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 12, I916.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

mm H E W Witnesses Attbrneys G. A. ADAMS.

COIN CONTROLLED CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED oer-12, I916.

mzmw, Patnted Apr. 3, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2-.

Witnesses W Z6 Z8 Attorneys m: Nunms PEYERS co nuoro-Lnxu. WASMINGTDN. o c.

G. A. ADAMS.

COIN CONTROLLED CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED on. 12. 1916.

122L265 Patented Apr. 3,1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Witnesses Attorneys rm NORRIS m. v.1 (J) Mom umu WALNINGYDN, o c

GEORGE A. ADAMS, OF SANJOSE, CALIFORNIA.

COIN -CO1\TTROLLED CHAIR.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3, 191?.

Application filed. October 12, 1916. Serial No. 125,267.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Gannon A. ADAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at San .lose, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented a new and useful Coin-Controlled Chair, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a coin controlled mechanism adapted to be assembled with the seat of a chair, so that the seat of the chair can be swung downwardly, only after a coin has been deposited in the coin controlled mechanism.

The invention aims to provide novel means whereby coin is advanced with respect to a locking mechanism which prevents rotation of the shaft which carries the seat the chair.

The invention aims to provide novel means for directing and controlling the passage of a coin to the coin controlled mechanism.

The invention aims, further, to provide novel means for actuating the instrumentalities whereby the coin is advanced to disengage the locking mechanism and to permit a rotation of the shaft.

The invention contemplates the provision of novel means whereby the seat shaft may be rotated, thereby to aid in raising the seat.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which th present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will. appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the'combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of-what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows in end elevation, a portion of a chair whereunto the device forming the subject matter of this application has been applied;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental front elevation of a chair embodying the present coin con-- trolled mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental vertical section illustrating the mounting of the seat shaft in the chair frame;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken through the coin controlled mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken through the coin controlled mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken through the coin controlled mechanism, the cutting planes in Figs. 5 and 6 lying at right angles to each other, and parts appearing in elevation in Fig. 6;

Fig. 7 is a view illustrating the means whereby a coin is advanced to actuate the locking mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a top plan of the lever whereby the coin is advanced;

Fig. 9 is a view illustrating the lever in the position in which it will appear after the lever has been tilted to advance the coin; Fig. 10 is a view illustrating said parts as they will appear after a part of the locking mechanism has been manipulated by a coin, to permit the rotation of the seat shaft;

Fig. 11 is a view illustrating the position of certain parts when the coin is about to be dumped, having exercised its function as an unlocking means;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the mechanism whereby unauthorized rotation of the seat shaft is prevented;

Fig. 13 is a view illustrating the locking means whereby a rotation of the seat shaft is prevented;

Fig. 1st is a view illustrating the operation whereby the coin disengages a portion of the locking mechanism from a disk on the seat shaft; and

Fig. 15 is a vertical section taken through the coin controlled mechanism and illustrating a counter which constitutes a part of the disclosure.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown a chair embodying side frames 1 and a back 2. Journaled for rocking movement in the side frames 1 as disclosed best in Fig. 3 is a shaft 8. The seat of the chair is designated generally by the numeral 4:, and the constituent bars 5 of the seat are secured in any desired manner as indicated the chair, so that the casing outstands from the said side frame, as disclosed clearly in Fig. 2. Mounted in the casing 7 is an inclined coin chute 9 including a bottom 10. The coin chute 9 may be made in separate parts, and therefore the bottom 10 of the coin chute appears in elevation in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The coin chute 9 may be held in place by lugs 11 on the casing 7.

The numeral 14 indicates a disk located within the casing 7 The shaft 3 which carries the seat 4 enters the casing 7 and the disk 14 is secured-as indicated at 15 (Fig.

5) to the shaft 3. The disk 14 has a grooved tread 16 in which is received a portion of a flexible element 17, preferably a chain. One end of the flexible element 17 is secured at 18 to the periphery of the disk 14. The lower end of the flexible element 17 is attached to a rod 19 (Fig. 5) mounted to slide in a socket 20 constituting a part of the casing 7. Threaded into or otherwise secured to the socket 20 is a depending tubular extension 21 into which the rod 19 extends. The rod 19 is connected as indicated at 22 with the upper end of a retractile spring 23 located in the extension 21. The lower end of the retractile spring 23 is connected at 24 to an eye 25, the stem 26 of which receives for rotation a nut 27 threaded into the lower end of the tubular extension 21. A nut 55 is threaded onto the stem 26 and coacts with the nut 27. Threaded into the lower end of the tubular extension 21 or otherwise secure thereto is a closure 28.

The disk 14 is equipped in its periphery with a notch 29. A portion of the periphery of the disk 14 is equipped with a laterally extended curved guard 30. Projecting from the disk 14 is a pin 31.

The numeral 32 indicates a lever provided with an upstanding flange 33. The lever 32 includes a tubular hub 34 and a pin 56. The lever 32 has a lateral extension 35. A pivot element 36 passes through the hub and engages the disk 14, the construction being such that the lever 32 may tilt on the disk 14 with the pivot element 36 as a fulcrum. A coiled spring 37 (Fig. 4) surrounds one end of the hub 34 loosely. One end of the spring 37 is attached as indicated at 38 to'the guard 30 on the disk 14. The other end 39- of the spring 37 is attached to the lateral extension 35 of the lever 32.

The numeral 40 (Fig. 12) denotes a sleeve carrying an outstanding pawl 41 adapted to coast with the notch 29 of the disk 14. Projecting from the sleeve 40 is an arm 42 coactmg with the lower end of the coin chute 9, the arm 42 havlng an upstandlng finger 43 projecting into the coin chute. A pivot swing on the pivot element 44. The casing 7 carries a boss 45 which projects inwardly to a point adjacent the periphery of the sleeve 40. The function of the boss 45 is to take some of the strain off the pivot element 44 when the pawl 41 is engaged with the notch 29 in the disk 14. In the drawings, and particularly in Fig. 15, the boss 45 is shown spaced some distance from the periphery of the sleeve 40. This has been done merely to render the drawings clear. In practice, the inner end of the boss 45 is close enough to the periphery of the sleeve 40 so that the boss can have the functions hereinbefore attributed. thereto.

The arm 42 may carry an extension 46 adapted to cooperate with the swinging arm 47 of a counter 48 mounted on the casing 7. The function of the counter 48 is to denote how many times the shaft 3, and consequently the seat 4, has been operated. The counter 48 may be of any desired construction, and the well known Veeder counter may be employed if desired.

Attached to the casing 7 and located in- 9' carries an adjustable abutment 51. A compression spring 52 surrounds the plunger 50, one end of the compression spring engaging the abutment 51, and the other end of the spring engaging the horizontal arm of the angle bracket 49. The spring 52 constitutes a means for elevating the plunger 50 after the plunger has been depressed manually to operate the lever 32 through the instrumentality of the lateral. extension 35 of the lever.

The casing 7 carries a pin 53 (Fig. 5). The pin 53 supports a spring 54 which bears on the pawl 41 and causes the pawl to coact with the notch 29 of the disk 14.

The practical operation of the structure is as follows Let it be supposed that the .seat 4 is swung upwardly into the substantially vertical position of Fig. 1. Then the pawl 41 is engaged in the notch 29 of the disk 14, and the seat 4 cannot be swung downwardly, because the disk 14 is attached at 15 to the. shaft 3, and because the pawl 41 is attached by means of the sleeve 40 and the pivot element 44 to the casing 7.

A coin (preferably, a nickel) is placed in the coin chute 9 and rolls downwardly along the coin chute. The coin passes between the flange 33 of the lever 32 and the disk 14. The coin then is supported on one end of the hub 34 of the lever 32 and on the pin 56 which projects laterally from the lever 32. The coin now appears as shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 9.

The plunger 50 is depressed manually, and the spring 52 is put under compression, the lower end of the plunger 50 engaging the lateral extension 35 of the lever 32 and tilting the lever 32 on its fulcrum 36 which is carried by the disk 14. The lever 32 thus is elevated to the position shown in Fig. 10, and when the lever is operated in the manner above described, one end of the lever engages the pin 31 of the disk 14 thereby to limit the swinging movement of the lever and to limit the position of the coin with respect to the arm 42, in a manner which will now be set forth.

When the coin is carried over into the position of Fig. 10 by the lever 32, the coin engages beneath the arm 42 and raises the arm, the sleeve 40 rotating or rocking on the pivot element 44, and the pawl 41 being moved out of engagement with the notch 29 in the disk 14. The pawl is shown thus positioned by dotted lines in Fig. 13.

The plunger 50 is now released, and moves upwardly under the action of the spring 52, the coin remaining engaged with the hub 34 of the lever 32, and with the arm 42, so as to hold the pawl 41 out of engagement with the notch 29 in the disk 14.

The seat 4 is now swung downwardly into a horizontal position, the shaft 3 being rotated and the disk 14 being rotated also. When the disk 14 is thus rotated, the disk and the lever 32 will assume the positions shown in Fig. 11, and the coin is dumped into the bottom of the casing 7.

When the arm 42 is elevated by the action of one coin disposed beneath the arm 42 as hereinbefore described, the finger 43 is elevated to a suflicient extent so that a 0 second coin, (shown in Fig. 5) cannot roll downwardly along the coin chute 9. When, however, there is no coin beneath the arm 42, and when the pawl 41 is engaged with the notch 29 of'the disk 14, the finger 43 will be depressed sutliciently so that a coin can roll along the chute 9 and aid in operating the mechanism, as hereinbefore set forth. The construction above described is such that when one coin is effecting a raising of the arm 42, another coin cannot be fed into the machine.

When the disk 14 is rotated, the guard 30 prevents other coins from being fed into the mechanism.

Attention may be directed to the functions of specific parts of the apparatus as follows. The sprin 54, one arm of which bears against the bottom 10 of the coin chute, the other end of which bears upon the pawl 41, constitutes a means for holding the end of the pawl 41 engaged with the notch 29 in the disk 14. The spring 37, being engaged at one end with the guard 30'of the disk '14, and being engaged at the other end with the extension 55 of the lever 32, constitutes a means for restoring the lever 32 to its original position after the lever has been tilted by the depression of the plunger 50. Presupposing that the device is adapted to be operated by a nickel, the space between the pin 56 and the hub 34 (Fig. 9) is great enough so that if a penny is inserted into the coin chute 9, the penny will drop downwardly between the hub 34 and the pin 56, and cannot be used to actuate the machine. When the seat 4 is lowered, the shaft 3 and the disk 14 are rotated, and the flexible element 17 is reeled onto the disk. This operation elevates the rod 19 and puts the spring 23 (Fig. 5) under tension. The spring 23 reacts on the rod 19 and the flexible element 17 to aid in raising the seat 4 and especial attention is directed to the fact that when the spring 23 swings the seat 4 upwardly, the pawl 41 automatically engages in the notch 29 of the disk 14 and locks the seat in an upturned position. The tension of the spring 23 may be adjusted bv rotating the nut 27 which is threaded into the lower end of the tubular extension 21.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a casing; a shaft journaled in the casing; a disk secured to the shaft; a lever located along the side of the disk; a fulcrum whereby the lever is connected to the disk; a projection on the lever, the projection and the fulcrum cooperating to form a coin sup port; a coin chute discharging on said coin support; a rocking member carried by the casing and including a pawl coacting with the disk, and an arm disposed above the lever, the projection constituting means for advancing a coin beneath the arm to disengage the pawl from the disk, the disk and the lever being rotatable to effect a discharge of the coin; and means for operating the lever to cause the coin to disengage the pawl from the disk.

2. In a device of the class described, a casing; a shaft iournaled in the casing; a disk secured to the shaft; a lever located along the side of the disk; a projection on the lever; a fulcrum whereby the lever is connected with the disk, the fulcrum and the projection cooperating to form a coin support; a coin chute discharging on said coin support; a rocking member carried by the casing and including a pawl coacting with the disk, and an arm disposed above the lever, the projection constituting a means for advancing a coin beneath the arm thereby to disengage the pawl from the disk, the disk and the lever being rotatable to effect a discharge of the coin; means for operating the lever to cause the coin to disengage the pawl from the disk; and yieldable means for securing a reverse rotation of the shaft.

3. In a device of the class described, a casing; a shaft journaledin the casing; a disk secured to the shaft; a lever located along the side of the disk; a projection on the lever; a fulcrum whereby the lever is connected to the disk, the fulcrum and the projection cooperating to form a coin support; a coin chute discharging on said coin support; a rocking member carried by the casing and including a pawl coacting with the disk, and an arm disposed above the lever, the arm including a finger projecting into the coin chute, the projection constituting a means for advancing a coin beneath the arm thereby to disengage the pawl from the disk, the. disk and the lever being rotatable to effect a discharge of the coin, and the finger coacting to prevent the advance of a second coin when the pawl is disengaged from the disk; and means for operating the lever to disengage the pawl from the disk, through the instrumentality of a coin.

4:. In a device of the class described, a casing; a shaft journaled in the casing; a disk secured to the shaft; a rocking member mounted. on the casing and including an arm, and a pawl coacting with the disk; a lever fulcrumed on the disk; means for discharging a coin on the lever; and means for operating the lever independently of the remounted on the casing and including an arm,

and a pawl coacting with the disk; a lever fulcrumed on the disk; means for discharging a coin on the lever; means for operating the lever independently of the rotation of the disk, thereby to advance a coin beneath the arm and to disengage the pawl from the disk; means for actuating the lever; and yieldable means for securing a reverse rotation of the shaft.

6. In a device of the class described, a casing; a shaft journaled in the casing; a disk secured to the shaft; a holding means engaging the disk; a lever fulcrumed on the disk; means for depositing a coin 0n the lever; and means for operating the lever independently of the rotation of the disk and the shaft to advance a coin with respect to the holding means and to disengage the holding means from the disk.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto ailixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. ADAMS.

I Vitnesses:

J. I. GRAnssLn, I-I. BARNETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

